Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathlena, The Allergy Chef.
Hi Kathlena, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Kathlena, The Allergy Chef, and I’m well known for my advocacy and commitment to helping people with food allergies, food intolerances, Celiac Disease, restricted diets, and special diets (Paleo, Vegan, GAPs, EOE, etc.).
I personally manage more than 200 food allergies and food intolerances, and can’t drink most water. After being given 30 days to live, and surviving, I made it my mission to change the world one bite at a time.
From that point, I published a dozen cookbooks, launched the safest bakery in the state of California for people with restricted diets and food allergies, (it closed in 2021 after all the lockdowns) did a nationwide food allergy awareness tour, and lot more.
The common thread behind all of my work is to help people thrive. Millions of people around the globe live with a restricted diet of some sort, and whilst not everyone has a life threatening condition, we all share the same hurdles. From finding safe food to living in a world that isn’t made for us, to feeling excluded at every social gathering that involves food (which is most).
For some, it’s sending their child to school safely, and for others, it’s a longing to just want to attend a baseball game safely. Through my work, I’ve had a hand in helping hundreds of thousands of people globally find hope, creative solutions, and learn to live their best free-from life.
Today, I find myself working towards landing a TV/streaming show that revolves around free-from cooking and baking, but also promotes inclusion so people can see that they really can share a delicious meal together. I’m also in the early stages of confirming speaking engagements at different events around the country.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it absolutely has not been a smooth road, though, who can really say they’ve had one. I think for me, my respirator has been my biggest hurdle.
Pre-lockdowns, I was treated like a social pariah. In fact, I was asked to leave several times by security at different places, just because I needed a device to breathe. I had to be a lonely trailblazer for years, and even now, in a post lock down world, I still get strange looks.
Another hurdle is that people who don’t manage a restricted diet just don’t get what I do. Honestly, that’s OK, I don’t expect them to. However, it can be difficult when you’re trying to launch an event etc., and people are asking why, rather than seeing and understanding the need.
Rising costs are another huge struggle. The thing with free-from, is well, there’s a free-from tax. There’s also the more well known gluten free tax. A standard person can buy an organic loaf of bread for $5. We have to pay $13 for an organic free-from load of bread. From that one example alone, it’s easy to see how free-from folks are constantly struggling just to keep themselves fed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
You can find my work at:
FreeAndFriendlyFoods.com (cookbooks, etc.)
TheAllergyChef.com (free online knowledge base and more)
GoRaise.net (membership site)
TheAllergyChefAcademy.com (courses)
Specialty: All things free-from foods, both sweet and savory. Advocacy, education, and helping people thrive.
Most proud of:
My free-from bakery was award winning which was pretty cool.
I was named one of the top 100 women in food allergy advocacy.
I was named the Food Allergy Blogger of the year a few years ago.
There have been a few other awards, but I think it’s the testimonials from the lives changed that I’m most proud of. One lady said I probably saved her husband’s life because I was able to tell her more in one email than all the doctors combined.
It’s a huge responsibility to have that kind of knowledge and impact, but people keep reaching out to tell me how much I’ve changed their life. One young man launched a project to help feed homeless and financially struggling people with food allergies and reached out to tell me I was part of the inspiration for his project. Talk about a real world ripple.
I’ve had the privilege of creating cakes for kids who have never had cake before (one girl turned 12 and it was her first bday cake ever). I make room at the table for people who are usually excluded. I think that, that’s what I’m most proud of.
I’ll also add, I’m really proud of my work in the pastry world. There isn’t a lot of representation for restricted diets and multiple food allergies in pastry, and for good reason. Being someone who is at the forefront of innovation is rather exciting. I’ve also been asked to speak at pastry events alongside BIG names in the pastry world, and to be able to bring free-from to that stage is mind blowing at times.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think I’m a risk taker for a few reasons. First, I grew up in a very abusive household. It really hardened me and taught me that if I was going to survive, I’d have to take risks.
When you’re given 30 days to live, you take risks. The alternative it to play it safe and possibly squander the time you have left.
I can also add, I’m a total thrill seeker. I’ve been skydiving, driven in race cars, and other high octane activities mainly because I just wanted to know what it was like and didn’t want to waste my time. I don’t want to look back one day and think, man, I should have done XYZ.
The “nice” thing about having mostly a digital presence these days rather than a brick and mortar is that you can take a little more risk, and it hurt a lot less if things don’t pan out.
However, risk shouldn’t equate stupid. I’m a firm believer in doing research, understanding pros and cons, and so on. If something has a chance of turning out well, I say, why not give it a try.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theallergychef.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theallergychef
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/theallergychef
- Other: https://freeandfriendlyfoods.com
